Knowledge management in technology-focused firms in emerging economies: Caveats on capabilities, networks, and real options

Abstract

In mature economies, technology-focused industries and the management of knowledge are widely viewed as critical to success. Increasingly, in emerging economies technology-focused industries and the management of knowledge are also viewed as important. To date, however, little is known about such activities in emerging economies. Particularly, it is not understood how knowledge management can impact efforts for corporate renewal in such environments. The literatures of the resource-based view of the firm, social capital/network theory, and real options theory are vital to providing insights for technology-focused industries and the management of knowledge in mature economies. In this paper we focus on the caveats when applying such theoretical foundations to emerging economies. To illustrate these issues we will draw on the largest emergent economy in the world, China. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2007Emerging economies, Social capital, Network theory, Real options theory, Corporate renewal,

An institution-based view of international business strategy: a focus on emerging economies

“…Specifically, strategic choices are not only driven by industry conditions and firm capabilities, but are also a reflection of the formal and informal constraints of a particular institutional framework that managers confront (Bruton, Dess, & Janney, 2007;Carney, 2005;Chelariu, Bello, & Gilliland, 2006;Delios & Henisz, 2000;Hill, 2007;Khanna & Palepu, 2000Lee & Oh, 2007;Lee, Peng, & Barney, 2007;Lu & Yao, 2006;Ma, Yao, & Xi, 2006;Meyer & Nguyen, 2005;Ring et al, 2005;Rodriguez, Uhlenbruck, & Eden, 2005;Teegen et al, 2004;Wan & Hoskisson, 2003;Zhou, Tse, & Li, 2006).…”

Investigating the factors affecting knowledge management application in new ventures

“…Typically, the managerial decisions about KM and renewal are laden with various competing risks as well (BRUTON et al, 2007). However, to some scholars KM in new ventures has merely one purpose, namely the creation of more innovation (DURST; WILHELM, 2011).…”

The effect of marketing knowledge management on sustainable competitive advantage: Evidence from banking industry

“…Knowledge management is an emerging concept in the field of management and no agreement has been reached on the exact nature of knowledge management (Alavi & Leidner, 2001;Tsai & Shih, 2004;Akroush, 2006;Bruton et al, 2007;Darvisha et al, 2008). It has been viewed as intellectual assets management, infrastructure, and customer relationship management and so.…”

“…Knowledge management is referred to manage the corporation's knowledge through a specified process for acquiring, organizing, sustaining, applying, sharing and renewing the knowledge of employees to enhance organizational performance and create value. KM is defined as the creation, extraction, transformation and storage of the correct knowledge and information in order to design better policy, modify action and deliver results for both the employees and organizations in the life insurance business (Bruton et al, 2007).The knowledge management is to congregate, classify, store, and spread all knowledge that is required to grow and flourish the organization. Malek (2005) showed knowledge management proposed process consists of four stages; 1) the proactive acquisition and generation of new information, and the sensing of trends, opportunities and problems, 2) the conceptualization of new challenges and ideas, 3) the development and optimization of new solutions, 4) the implementation of the new solutions.…”

“…In fact, it has been argued that knowledge management is the most critical element of a business's competitive success (Spender & Grant, 1996). There is substantial evidence to support the salience of knowledge management as a source of competitive advantage (McEvily & Chakravarthy, 2002;Bruton et al, 2007). Interest in KM has grown dramatically in the recent years, as more researchers and practitioners have become aware of the knowledge potential to drive innovation and improve performance.…”